Festivals are generally known for being times of feasting, music, and joy. But interestingly, there is one festival specifically dedicated to the very act of indulgence—so much so that its name literally translates to “Fat Tuesday.” You guessed it! We are talking about Mardi Gras.
While New Orleans might be the most famous hub for these celebrations, the spirit of Mardi Gras is universal. It is a time of vibrant parades, jazz music, bead tossing, and elaborate costumes. For parents and teachers, it is also a fantastic opportunity to introduce children to a rich cultural tradition filled with history and art.
This year, let the kids have a carnival of their own right in your living room or classroom. We have curated a list of ideas and descriptions for 10 Magnificent Mardi Gras Printables for Kids, covering everything from dress-up masks to educational activity sheets.
But before we fire up the printer, let’s explore what this festival is actually about so you can share the story with your little ones.
What is Mardi Gras? A Quick Lesson for Kids
Mardi Gras is French for “Fat Tuesday.” The date changes every year because it is connected to the Christian calendar. It always falls on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent.
Lent is a period of 40 days leading up to Easter, traditionally observed by fasting, simple living, and reflection. Because people knew they were about to give up rich foods like meat, eggs, and dairy, they would throw a massive party on the Tuesday before to eat up all the “fatty” foods in the house. Hence, Fat Tuesday!
A Global Celebration
While we associate it with the purple, green, and gold of New Orleans, the concept of a pre-Lenten festival exists all over the world under different names:
- United Kingdom: Pancake Day or Shrove Tuesday (Time to use up the eggs and milk!)
- Germany: Schmutziger Donnerstag or Fetter Donnerstag
- Italy: Martedì Grasso
- Sweden: Fettisdagen
- Brazil: Carnaval (The most famous carnival in the world!)
The Colors of Mardi Gras
When you are choosing crayons or markers for these printables, make sure you have plenty of these three colors. In 1872, the King of the Carnival selected them, and they each have a special meaning:
- Purple represents Justice.
- Green represents Faith.
- Gold represents Power.
Now that we have the history down, let’s get crafting! Here are 10 types of printables that will bring the carnival spirit to your home.
1. The Classic Masquerade Mask Template
Mardi Gras isn’t just about food; it is about the mystery and fun of a masquerade! In the old days, masks allowed people of different classes to mingle without anyone knowing who was who.
The Printable Idea: Look for simple mask outlines that cover just the eyes or the whole face. The best templates are blank canvases.
- How to use it: Print the template on heavy cardstock. Let the kids color them in traditional purple, green, and gold.
- Level Up: Don’t stop at coloring! Use glue to attach real feathers, sequins, and glitter. Tape a straw or a chopstick to the side of the mask so the child can hold it up to their face like a vintage masquerade attendee.
2. Jester Hat Coloring & Cut-Out
The Jester is a central figure in Mardi Gras lore, representing fun, mischief, and humor. The iconic three-pointed hat with bells is a favorite among children.
The Printable Idea: Find a printable that allows kids to cut out the three “points” of the hat separately and attach them to a paper headband.
- Activity: This is a great scissor-skills activity for preschoolers. Have them color the diamonds on the jester hat in alternating colors. You can even staple real little bells to the tips of the paper hat for that authentic “jingle” sound!
3. “Design Your Own Doubloon” Worksheets
In Mardi Gras parades, “krewes” (the organizations that put on the parades) throw trinkets to the crowd. The most prized catches are often Doubloons—aluminum coins stamped with the Krewe’s logo.
The Printable Idea: Download a sheet with large, blank circles.
- The Educational Angle: Ask your children to design their own “Krewe” logo. What would their parade be called? What symbol represents them? A lion? A spaceship? This encourages creative thinking and branding design at a basic level.
4. Mardi Gras Word Search
When the crafting chaos gets too loud, a word search is the perfect way to bring some quiet focus back to the room.
The Printable Idea: A grid of letters hiding festival-related vocabulary.
- Words to include: Parade, Mask, Beads, King Cake, Purple, Gold, Green, Float, Jazz, New Orleans.
- Why it’s great: It reinforces spelling and pattern recognition. You can find these easily online or generate your own using free puzzle-making tools.
5. The “King Cake” Baby Spotter
King Cake is a delicious cinnamon-dough cake covered in icing and sugar. Inside, a tiny plastic baby is hidden. Tradition says whoever finds the baby in their slice has to host the next party!
The Printable Idea: Since we can’t always bake a cake, use a “Pin the Baby on the King Cake” printable game.
- How to play: Print a large image of a King Cake. Print several small “babies.” Blindfold the kids and see who can stick the baby closest to the center of the cake. It’s a festive twist on “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”
6. Mardi Gras Bingo Cards
Bingo is a classroom favorite because it engages a large group of children at once with minimal setup.
The Printable Idea: Cards featuring icons instead of numbers.
- Icons to look for: A trumpet, a necklace of beads, a fleur-de-lis, a mask, a slice of cake, a streetcar.
- The Markers: Instead of regular bingo chips, use chocolate gold coins or purple and green M&Ms to mark the spots. The winner gets to eat their markers!
7. Fleur-de-Lis Bunting Decoration
The Fleur-de-Lis (Lily Flower) is the symbol of French royalty and is deeply connected to the history of New Orleans.
The Printable Idea: Triangle flags with the Fleur-de-Lis symbol in the center.
- The Project: Print 10-12 of these flags. Have the children color them and cut them out. Punch holes in the corners and thread a green ribbon through them.
- The Result: A DIY garland that you can hang across the classroom or living room to instantly set the mood for the party.
8. “Laissez les bons temps rouler” Handwriting Practice
Mardi Gras is a great time to introduce a little French language! The phrase Laissez les bons temps rouler means “Let the good times roll.”
The Printable Idea: Tracing worksheets that feature this phrase, along with simple French words like Violet (Purple), Vert (Green), and Or (Gold).
- Why it works: It turns a handwriting drill into a cultural lesson. Kids love learning words in a different language, and it connects them to the roots of the festival.
9. Parade Float Design Challenge
The floats in Mardi Gras parades are massive, moving works of art. They are often built on top of wagons or trucks.
The Printable Idea: A worksheet showing the outline of a flatbed truck or a wagon, with plenty of empty space above it.
- The Prompt: “If you could build a float, what would it look like?”
- Creativity: Kids can draw dragons, castles, or superheroes on top of the wagon. This is a great STEM prompt too—ask them how they would make the decorations balance or move!
10. Mardi Gras Math Counting Sheets
For the younger toddlers and preschoolers, utilize the bright colors of the holiday for basic math.
The Printable Idea: “Count the Beads” or “Add the Feathers.”
- The Activity: Images of necklaces where kids have to count the individual beads, or simple addition problems where they add green masks to purple masks.
- Visual Learning: The high contrast of the purple, green, and gold colors makes these worksheets visually stimulating and keeps young minds engaged longer than black-and-white worksheets.
How to Host a Mini-Mardi Gras at Home
Now that you have your printables ready, here is a quick guide to throwing a mini-celebration:
- Set the Scene: Hang up your Fleur-de-Lis bunting (#7).
- Dress Up: Have the kids cut out and wear their Jester Hats (#2) and Masks (#1).
- The Parade: Put on some jazz music (look for “Second Line” drumming beats). Give the kids the Doubloons they designed (#3) and have them march around the house tossing them into baskets.
- Quiet Time: Settle down with the Word Search (#4) or Bingo (#6) while enjoying a snack—pancakes are appropriate if you want to honor the “Shrove Tuesday” tradition!
Conclusion
Mardi Gras is more than just a party; it is a celebration of community, art, and history. By using these magnificent printables, you aren’t just keeping the kids busy—you are inviting them into a tradition that spans centuries and continents.